Bow-facing oar.



T. C. JEWELL.

BOW FACING OAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1912.

1,053,822, Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

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THOMAS JEWELL, OF ELBERT, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO RICHARD R. BURNSIDE, OF ELBERT, COLORADO.

BOW-FACING OAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18,1913.

Application filed July 19, 1912. Serial No. 710,461.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS C. Jnwnnn. a citizen of the United States, residing at EL bert, in the county of Elbert and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bow-Facing Oars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved oar which is adapted to be used by an oarsman facing the bow of the boa-t and consists in the construction, combination and arrangementI of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

One object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of the oar whereby the same is provided with a pair of pivots or fulcra which enable the oar to be conveniently used by the oarsman seated with his face to the bow.

Another object is to provide improved means for mounting the oar on the gunwale of a boat.

In the accompanying drawing :FFigure 1 is a side elevation of an oar constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the same mounted on the gunwale of a boat. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with a portion of the upper plate removed. Fig. 3 1s a detail sectional view on the plane indicated by the line c-a of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a detail elevation of theV oar locking nxeans for mounting the oar on the gunwale.

In accordance with my invention, the improved loow facing oar comprises an outer member 1 which has the usualblade 2 and an inner member 3 which extends inboard and is provided with the usual handle 1. The inner end of the outer member 1 is se cured in a socket 5 which is formed between the opposing sides of the enlarged inner ends 6 of a pair of parallel bars or plates 7. These bars or plates are spaced apart by washers 8 and are secured on opposite sides of the said washers by means of bolts or rivets 9, the enlarged outer ends G of the said bars or plates being secured to the inner end of the outer oar member 1 by means of a bolt or rivet 10. The inner ends of the bars or plates 7 curve forwardly to form a forwardly extending arm 11 and the said bars or plates are provided at points intermediate their ends with a series of adjusting openings 12.

The inner member 3 has its outer end secured in a socket 13 formed between the enlarged inner ends 14 of a pair of bars or plates 15, which are substantially identical 1n construction with the bars or plates 7 and the outer ends of which are curved rearwardly to form a rearwardly extending arm 16. These bars or plates 15 are secured on opposite sides of'spacer washers 17 by rivets or bolts 1S and the enlarged inner ends of said bars or plates are secured to the outer end of the inner oar member 3 by means of a bolt or rivet 20. A link 21 connects the inner and outer members of the oar and has its ends pivotally connected to the arms 1l- 1G of the oar members, as indicated at 21.

In order to mount the oar, I provide a base plate 22 which is arranged transversely on the gunwale of the boat, indicated at A and is provided on its under side with a pair of depending s aced lugs 23 which are pivotally connecte( to the upper end of a standard 24. This standard is here shown as secured to the outer side of the boat and provided at its upper end with a transverse enlarged cylindrical portion 25 which has pivot spindles 2G which project from its ends, the said pivot spindles operating in the inner ends` of slots 27 with which the lugs 23 are provided, the said slots extending to the outer sides of the said lugs. Locking pins 28 are inserted in vertical openings in the lugs, pass through the slots of the lugs and bear on the outer sides of the spindles and, hence, serve to retain the spindles in place in the inner ends of the slots and thus retain the base plate 22 pivotally mounted on the upper end of the standard so that the base plate is adapted to rock vertically on the standard, as is required by the motion of the oar in rowing. These lock pins are here shown as connected to the base plate by means of chains 29 which prevent them from becoming lost.

It will be understood that by first removing the lock pins, the base plate and the oar may be detached from the gunwale of the boat. The base plate is provided on its upper side, near its ends, with upwardly projecting bearing studs 3l- 32. The bearing stud 31 may be inserted in anyone of the adjusting openings 12 of the outer oar member and forms Vthe fulcrum of the outer oarV member, the adjusting openings enabling the fulerum to be shifted so as to regulate the stroke of the oar, as will be understood. The bearing stud 32 is inserted in a pivot opening 33 in the bars or plates 17 of the inner oar member and forms a fulcrum for the inner oar member. Inasmuch, as the oar is thus provided with two fulcra and inasmuch, as the inner and outer members of the oar` are connected by the link 2l, it will be understood that the oar can be readily operated by a ro-Wer who sit-s facing the bow of the boat.

A top plate 34 is also provided which bears on the upper ends of the pivot studs 31-32 or fulcra and is secured in place b v bolts 35 which pass through openings in said pivot studs, said base plate and said top plate, the bars or plates which, in effect form the opposing ends of the inner and outer members of the oar, being arranged between the base plate and the top plate, as shown. Should either the inner or the outer member of the oar become broken it may be readily replaced by a new member and at slight cost, the socket connections between Athe said members and the arms or plates providing` for such renewal, as will be understood.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of my invention, I would have it understood that changes may be made n the form, proportion and construction of the several parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim l. An oar of the class described comprisbetween the arms of the pair of bars, spacer elements also between said pairs of bars, and fastening` devices connecting said pairs of bars, certain of said fastening devices passing through said spacer element, the other fastening devices forming the pivotal connections between the links and the inner ends of the said arms.

2. In combination with an oar supporting member having' a pair of depending lugs each provided wit-h a slot open at one side of the lug, a standard for attachment to the gunwale of a boat and having pivots to engage the said slots7 and means to eX- tend across the slots and prevent the casual detachment of the said supporting member from the said pivots.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS C. JEWELL.

Witnesses B. M. NARRON, RALPH JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

